Saturday, October 08, 2016

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 23

Daodejing, LaoziChapter 23

"To be always talking is against nature.For the same reason a hurricane never lasts a whole morning,Nor a rainstorm all day.Who is it that makes the wind and rain?It is Heaven-and Earth.And if even Heaven-and Earth cannot blow or pour for long,How much less in his utterance should man?Truly, if one uses the Way as one's instrument,The results will be like the Way;If one uses the “power” as instrument,The results will be like the “power”.If one uses what is the reverse of the “power”,The results will be the reverse of the “power”.For to those who have conformed themselves to the Way,The Way readily lends its power.To those who have conformed themselves to the power,The power readily, lends more power.While to those who conform themselves to inefficacy,Inefficacy readily lends its ineffectiveness.“It is by not believing in people that you turn them into liars.”"- Translated by Arthur Waley, 1934, Chapter 23

"Nature does not have to insist,Can blow for only half a morning,Rain for only half a day,And what are these winds and these rains but natural?If nature does not have to insist,Why should man?It is natural tooThat whoever follows the way of life feels alive,That whoever uses it properly feels well used,Whereas he who loses the way of life feels lost,That whoever keeps to the way of lifeFeels at home,Whoever uses it properlyFeels welcome,Whereas he who uses it improperlyFeels improperly used:'Fail to honor people,They fail to honor you."- Translated by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 23

"With few words affirm the Self.A great wind does not blow all the morning,A heavy wind does not continue all day.Why is this so?It is because of the inter-relations of Heaven and Earth.If Heaven and Earth cannot make things last long.How much less can man?Therefore he who follows the service of Tao is one with Tao,He who is virtuous is one with Teh,He who fails is one with failure.He who is one with Tao,Tao shall also claim him.He who is one with TehTeh shall also claim him.He who is one with failure,Failure shall also claim him.Faith that is not complete is not faith."- Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 23

"To be sparing of words is natural.A violent wind cannot last a whole morning; pelting rain cannot last a whole day.Who have made these things but heaven and earth?Inasmuch as heaven and earth cannot last forever, how can man?He who engages himself in Tao is identified with Tao.He who engages himself in virtue is identified with virtue.He who engages himself in abandonment is identified with abandonment.Identified by Tao, he will be well received by Tao.Identified with virtue, he will be well received by virtue.Identified with abandonment, he will be well received by abandonment."- Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 23

"Sparing indeed is the Nature of its Talk ...Sparing indeed is nature of its talk:The whirlwind will not last the morning out;The cloudburst ends before the day is done.What is it that behaves itself like this?The earth and sky! And if it be that theseCut short their speech, how much more yet should man!If you work by the Way,You will be of the Way;If you work through its virtueyou will be given the virtue;Abandon either oneAnd both abandon you.Gladly then the Way receivesThose who choose to walk in it;Gladly too its power upholdsThose who choose to use it well;Gladly will abandon greetThose who to abandon drift.Little faith is put in themWhose faith is small."- Translated by Raymond Blackney, 1955, Chapter 23

"To speak little is natural.Therefore a gale does not blow a whole morningNor does a downpour last a whole day.Who does these things? Heaven and Earth.If even Heaven and Earth cannot force perfect continuityHow can people expect to?Therefore there is such a thing as aligning one's actions with the Tao.If you accord with the Tao you become one with it.If you accord with virtue you become one with it.If you accord with loss you become one with it.The Tao accepts this accordance gladly.Virtue accepts this accordance gladly.Loss also accepts accordance gladly.If you are untrustworthy, people will not trust you."- Translated by Charles Muller, 1891, Chapter 23